After a few real power outages, I noticed something: I was unorganized.
A lot of people jump straight to gear.
New battery. New bag. Something a video called a “must-have.”
Then the lights go out and you’re still digging through a closet you never sorted.
I did a version of that early on. I cared about backup power before I had a clear picture of food, water, what I’d grab if we had to leave, and who I’d need to reach if the phones got weird.
Lists sound dull next to shiny equipment.
They’re not.
They’re how you stop guessing when things get noisy — what you actually have, where it is, and what still needs work.
I keep five simple lists. Not because I’m running a bunker. Because I don’t want my brain holding everything at once during a bad week.
Here’s the set I come back to. Start with one. Leave the rest for later if you want.
1. Food inventory list
Food matters. A chaotic pantry still leaves you guessing.
Keep a simple spreadsheet or a handwritten page with:
- Item name (e.g., “Canned chicken”)
- Quantity
- Expiration date
- Where you stashed it
That way you rotate food before it dies in the back of the cupboard — and you don’t end up with six bags of rice and nothing to put on them.
Gear ideas (names only — links blocked):
| Level | Idea |
|——-|——|
| Beginner | 30-day emergency food pail |
| Intermediate | Freeze-dried fruit variety bucket |
| Advanced | 1-year emergency food supply kit |
2. Water supply and purification list
You can go a long time hungry. You can’t go long thirsty.
On this list, track:
- Bottled water you already have
- Storage containers (bricks, jugs, drums)
- How you’ll clean water (filter, tablets, boil plan)
Figure gallons per person (about 1 gallon a day minimum) and where the water actually lives in the house.
Gear ideas (names only — links blocked):
| Level | Idea |
|——-|——|
| Beginner | Water purification tablets |
| Intermediate | LifeStraw personal water filter |
| Advanced | Gravity-fed family filtration system |
3. Go-bag essentials list
This is the bag you’d grab for about 72 hours away from home.
Sketch it out:
- Water and snacks
- Change of clothes
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Knife or multitool
- First aid
- Local maps
- Lighter or fire starter
Bonus: weigh the bag after you pack it. If it’s miserable to carry around the block, it’ll be worse when you’re tired. Rough guide: stay near 15–20% of body weight if you can.
Gear ideas (names only — links blocked):
| Level | Idea |
|——-|——|
| Beginner | Pre-made 72-hour emergency bag |
| Intermediate | Tactical MOLLE backpack with gear slots |
| Advanced | Modular customizable survival pack |
4. Emergency contact and information list
Phones fail. Chargers disappear. Towers get busy.
Write down:
- People to call or find (family, friends, neighbors)
- Allergies and basic medical notes
- How to shut off water / gas / power if you know it
- Insurance names and numbers
Stick copies in the go-bag, the glove box, and somewhere dry at home. Give family their own copy if that helps your household.
*(No product pitch here. This one is just care and common sense.)*
5. Skills to learn and practice list
Stuff helps. Knowing what to do helps more.
Make three little columns if you want: already know / learning / someday. Easy starters:
- Fire starting
- First aid and CPR
- Water purification
- Basic gardening
- Canning or other food keeping
- Finding your way without only the phone
- Paying attention to what’s around you
Thirty minutes one evening is enough to move a skill. Watch something, try it once, scribble a note on the list so you remember what worked.
Gear ideas (names only — links blocked):
| Level | Idea |
|——-|——|
| Beginner | Bushcraft 101 survival skills book |
| Intermediate | DIY emergency skills course |
| Advanced | Hands-on wilderness survival weekend training |
Wrapping up
You don’t need all five lists done this week. Pick one — food or water is plenty — and put a few honest lines on a page.
If it looks messy, that’s fine. A messy list you actually use beats a pretty template you never open. I’m still tweaking mine when I notice a gap.
One list. Then the next when you’re ready.
— DPathfinder
Want a simple 72-hour start?
Get the free checklist:
Leave a Reply